Musical instrument



De@ 3, 1935. o. SCHMIDT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR ATTORNEY5.

Dem 3, 1935. o. SCHMIDT MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 9, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @U10 5MM/mdf lNvENToR BY flag/0 7%@ TToRNEYsl Patented Dec. 3, 1,935l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT New York Application December 9, 1933, Serial No. 701,577

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved key-controlled musical instrument, such as accordions, concertinas, organs, pianos and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient control for instruments of this kind.

Another object of my invention is to provide an instrument of this kind, such as an accordion, with a simple and improved control for actuating a selector device, which is technically known in the trade as a register, in order to select the series of reeds to be operated.

Another object of my invention is to provide simple and improved control means which are suitably located adjacent the main keys of the instrument, in order to facilitate control of the register.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which 2O illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an accordion to which my invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views on the lines 4 4 and 5--5 of Fig. 3, Fig. 4 showing the treble side and Fig. 5 showing the bass side.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan View illustrating the register slide.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line I-l of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. l, the accordion maybe of any suitable type having bellows B, a bass side I a treble side 2, main keys 3 and 3a, and bass keys 4, and a manipulating strap 5.

The device has suitable supporting straps or harness (not shown) so that it can be carried by the body of the player, who manipulates the keys 3 and 3a with his right hand. The keys 4 are manipulated with the left hand, and the operator manipulates the strap 5 with his left hand, in order to open and close the bellows.

In thus describing the general operation of the instrument, it is assumed that the player is rightone register was provided and the reeds were arranged in series or groups, so that each reed of one series was directly associated with a companion reed of another series, in order to form pairs of reeds. Harmonics or tone combinations 5 were secured when a pair of such series of reeds was operated.

The purpose of the register was to cut off the air current from one series of each said pair, so that the reeds of one series would be actuated, 10 without operating the companion series of reeds. Devices of this kind have been well known and largely used for many years, so that a detailed description is unnecessary. However the manipulation of the register slides was difficult and in- 15 convenient.

According to my invention I provide a plurality of control buttons 6, l, 8 and 9. 'I'here may be any desired number oi such control buttons, but I have only illustrated four of such buttons in 20 this embodiment.

The above mentioned control buttons 6-9 inclusive, are located on the treble side of the instrument. I can provide additional control buttons I0 and II upon the bass side of the instru- 25 ment.

'Ihe buttons 6 and 9 control the bass side of the instrument, although said buttons are located upon the treble side, so that they can be readily manipulated by the right hand of the player. The 30 buttons 'I and 8 control the treble side of the instrument'. The buttons I 0 and II provide additional control for the bass side of the instrument, in case the player wishes to use his left hand, which ordinarily grasps the strap 5. 35

Since the register slides which are respectively controlled by said buttons are generally of the same construction, a description of one of them is sulicient.

Referring to Fig. 6, this shows a register slide 40 R. Fig. 6 also shows a reed box I2, having a series oi openings I4 and a second series of openings I5. As shown in Fig. 6, each opening I4 is directly associated with a corresponding opening I5, and the reeds I6 oi each said pair of openings 45 I4 and I5 have any suitable tone relation to each other.

When the register slide R is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the air current will only operate the reeds which are associated with the openings 50 I4 because said register slide then blocks said openings I5. The register slide R is provided with slots intermediate its imperforate portions, in the usual manner. Hence when the register slide is suitably shifted, its perforated portions are aligned with the rectangular openings I5, so that the air current operates both sets of reeds in the respective reed block i2.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, I have shown a register associated with only one of said reed blocks l2, but additional movable registers could be provided, as desired.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the keys 3 are provided with pivot points ila, and the keys 3a are provided with pivot points il, in the usual manner. Y

The control devices which are operated by the control buttons i i inclusive, may be of any suitable type, as for example the type which is shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,314,867 to Gray, or the wellknown Bowden wire, which is illustrated in Williams U. S. Patent No. 1,284,523.

The control button l is provided with a shank i3, and the adjacent end of the flexible sleeve 2B is provided with a suitable rigid sleeve for guiding the sliding movement of theshank or plunger I8.V

This rigid sleeve is ylocated within a metal sleeve I9, which is suitably secured to the frame of the device.

When the button i is pushed inwardly, it remains in said inner position.

Referring to Fig. 6, the opposite end of the hollow flexible cable 29 is provided with a sleeve 22, housing a slidable pin 2i, which can push against the inclined or cam surface of the register slide R.

Generally speaking, the outer cable comprises a spaced and open-wound spiral spring which is flexible, compressible and which is covered with any suitable jacket, and said outer cable has slidably located therein a closely wound thrust coil, consisting of a helical spring whose turns are in contact with each other, so that the thrust member is longitudinally incompressible and laterally flexible. The elements of said cable are old and well'known, and they are disclosed in said U. S. Patent No. 1,314,867.

The outer and inner members can be bent very readily and since the inner member is longitudinally incompressible, the motion of the button 1 is transmitted to the operating pin 2l,'without any lost motion. After the button 'l has been pushed inorder to move the associated register R in one direction, the other button 3 is pressed in order to move said register in the Vopposite direction.

As shown in Fig. 6, each register R is associated with a pair of such 'control devices, so that said register is slid in one direction or in the opposite direction, by consecutively manipulating the pair of control buttons associated therewith. Hence when button is pushed down, button 8 is automatically pushed up, and the reverse relative movement can be automatically secured.

Referring to Fig. 7, the shanks I8 of the control pins are located between main keys 3.

Referringr to Figs. 3 and 5, the control button 9 is associated with the control button 6, in order to operate registers Ra and Rb on the bass side. As shown in Fig. 3 the general construction and mounting of the 'control cable which is associated with the button 9, is generally the same as that previously described. However, the hollow control cable is now wound in a plurality of coils in helical form,in order to extend the same through the bellows B and over to the bass side. There are enough coils C in this cable, to permit the bellows B tobe opened to the fullest extent.

Referring to Fig. 4, the operating pinsV 2| move back and forth within rigid sleeves 22, which are suitably mounted on the reed blocks i2.

Fig. 5 shows two registers Ra which are generally similar to register R and move in unison in. one direction, and a third register Rb which is 5 also generally similar to register R simultaneously moved in the opposite directon.

f The control cables shown in Fig. 5 are provided with pins 25 and 25, which are similar to the pins 2i. The two registers Ra are connected by a l0 'cross piece 3S made of suitable metal, and the pin 26 pushes against this cross piece so as to move the two registers Ra to the left of the position shown in Fig. 5.

A lever 2l is pivotally connected to theframe 15 of the instrument at 28, and said lever 2l is provided with a pin 2S which moves within a slot of the member Sil. The lever 2'! is also provided with a pin 3i, which can move within a slotof the register Rb. Hence the registers Ra are 20 moved in a direction opposite to the register Rb. The pin 25 bears directly against the adjacent end of the register Rb. Y

The buttons I@ and Il control auxiliary cables 58 which can be inserted into the position shown 25 in Fig. 5, in order to take the place of the cables which are operated by the buttons 6 and 9,.

If desired, the pins of the supplemental cables 5!) can bear against the corresponding registers,V so that the registers of the bass side can be con- 30 trolled either by the control buttons on the treble side or by the control buttons of the bass side.

Referring to Fig. 3, the keys operate valves V yof the usual type, each said valve being associated with a pair of openings in the adjacent reed block. 35

For convenience the keys 3 and 3a. and 4 may be designated as individual main keys, and the control buttons t, l, 3, 9, lil and il maybe designated as multiple control buttons, since each of said buttons controls a greater number of notes i0 than those which are controlled by the individual main keys.

Likewise the member R may be generally designated as a combination control member.

Whenever I refer to an accordion in the claims, 45v

it is to be understood that I wish to generally include instruments of this type which are held by the player and which are provided with bellows.

It will be noted that the control buttons 6, l, 8

andv 9 are located adjacent the inner ends of the 50' keys 3 and 3a. I do not wish to limit the invention to a structure in which the shanks of said buttons are located intermediate the keys 3 and 3a, although I prefer this construction.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my 55K invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions could be made without departing from its spirit.

Y I claim: Y

1. In an accordion having reed blocks each of 60;

which is provided with a plurality of series of reeds and also having valves operated by main keys, said valves controlling reeds belonging to different series, a slide-register adapted to control one of said series, control members adapted G5 to operate said slide-register in one direction or the opposite direction so as to move said slide-register from its operative position to its inoperative position, and control buttons foroperating said control members, said control buttons being locat- 70 g ed adjacent the inner ends of the keys and having their shanks located between said keys.

2. In an accordion having reed blocks each of which is provided with a plurality of series of reeds and also having valves operated by main keys, said valves controlling reeds belonging to different series, a slide-register adapted to control one of said series, control members adapted to operate said slide-register in one direction or the opposite direction so as to move said slideregister from its operative position to its inoperative position, and control buttons for operating said control members, said control buttons having Shanks which are located intermediate said keys, said control buttons being movable in the same direction as said keys.

3. In an accordion having reed blocks each of which is provided with a plurality of series of reeds and also having key-operated valves which control reeds belonging to different series, a slideregister adapted to control one of said series, control members adapted to operate said slide-register in one direction or the opposite direction so as to move said slide-register from its operative position to its inoperative position, and control devices which are operated by control buttons for operating said control members, said control buttons being located adjacent the inner ends of the keys, said control devices comprising flexible outer sheaths and ilexible operating members slidably located in said sheaths.

4. An accordion having a treble side and a bass side and bellows and treble keys and bass keys, said bellows being located intermediate the treble keys and the bass keys, said accordion having reed blocks at its bass side, said reed blocks respectively having a plurality of series of reeds therein, a slide-register associated with a reed block on the bass side and adapted to control a series of reeds in said reed block, control buttons for said slide-register, said control buttons being located at the treble side of the instrument, flexible actuating members between said control buttons and said slide register, said control members each comprising a flexible outer sheath and a flexible operating member located in said sheath, said control members passing through said bellows and being shaped within said bellows so as to permit the free opening of said bellows.

trol device, said actuating members comprising ilexible sheaths having exible operating members slidably located therein.

6. A musical instrument having keys and a plurality of sound producing members which are controlled by said keys, a multiple control device which is adapted to control a greater number of said sound producing members than one of said keys, control buttons for said multiple control device, said control buttons being located adjacent said keys so that said control buttons can be conveniently operated, and actuating devices intermediate said buttons and said multiple control device, said actuating members comprising flexible sheaths having flexible operating members slidably located therein, said control buttons having shanks which are located intermediate said keys.

'7. A musical instrument having keys and a plurality of sound producing members which are controlled by said keys, a multiple control device which is adapted to control a greater number of said sound producing members than one of said keys, control buttons for said multiple control device, said control buttons being located adjacent said keys so that said control buttons can be conveniently operated, and actuating devices intermediate said buttons and said multiple control device, said actuating members comprising ilexible sheaths having flexible operating members slidably located therein, said control buttons being located adjacent the inner ends of the keys.

OTTO SCHMIDT. 

